Centro Democrático and Cambio Radical declare support for De la Espriella government

Colombia's president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella secured his first major political backing two days after his narrow victory (0.96% margin over Iván Cepeda) as the Centro Democrático and Cambio Radical declared themselves parties of government.

Political support

The Centro Democrático, led by former president Álvaro Uribe, announced its 47 congressmen will back De la Espriella, citing programmatic coincidences on security, economy, and institutional reform Source: Portafolio. The decision came despite a public spat between Uribe and a De la Espriella advisor Source: La Silla Vacía. Cambio Radical followed on June 25, pledging its 7 senators and 12 representatives to support reforms in security, health, and economic growth Source: Infobae.

Agenda and challenges

The Centro Democrático outlined a legislative agenda including:

• Security: strengthen justice, reform the JEP Source: La República.
• Health: rescue the health system Source: La FM.
• Economy: lower property taxes, promote investment, and trim the state Source: El Colombiano.

Meanwhile, the party also pushed a law to strengthen merit in public hiring, forbidding governments from lowering technical requirements for high-level posts – a reaction to controversial appointments under President Gustavo Petro . De la Espriella, however, faces a fragmented Congress: his own Salvación Nacional holds only 5 seats, and building a governing coalition will require negotiating with independent lawmakers who hold the balance of power . The Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT) has already declared itself in opposition .